Benjamin White Sentenced to 65 Years for 2022 Laurel Street Murder

A Hartford Superior Court judge on Jan. 21, 2026 sentenced 38-year-old Benjamin White to 65 years in prison following his conviction for a 2022 Laurel Street shooting that killed 33-year-old Simon Griffin and injured another man. The sentence capped a jury trial that convicted White on charges including murder, first-degree assault and criminal possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors told the court that the surviving victim’s testimony was pivotal in securing the conviction, allowing jurors to piece together events from the night of the shooting. The state’s attorney described the 65-year term as just, reflecting the gravity of the loss suffered by Griffin’s family and the injury to the other victim.

The shooting on Laurel Street in 2022 left a lasting impact on the neighborhood where residents have pushed for greater safety measures and police presence. The conviction and sentence provide a measure of legal accountability for a killing that reverberated through the community, while also highlighting the practical importance of witness cooperation in violent-crime cases. Local residents and community groups often view outcomes like this as both a deterrent to future violence and a test of the criminal justice system’s ability to deliver closure.

Courtroom proceedings focused on the sequence of events that led to the shooting and the evidence tying White to the scene and the firearm. Jurors deliberated on counts that carried mandatory sentencing considerations under state law for murder and related gun charges. The judge’s sentence reflects the combined weight of those convictions and the statutes that guide penalties for homicide and first-degree assault with a firearm.

For families of victims and community advocates, the case emphasizes a few clear takeaways: the significance of survivor testimony, the role of prosecutors in securing convictions on complex violent-crime charges, and the long sentences judges can impose in cases involving deadly force and firearms. Public safety officials and neighborhood groups may use the outcome to press for continued violence prevention efforts, support services for victims, and programs aimed at reducing gun crimes.

As the community absorbs the sentence, attention will turn to the needs of Griffin’s family and the injured survivor, as well as ongoing efforts to prevent similar tragedies on Laurel Street and beyond. The conviction closes a chapter in this investigation, but it also underscores continuing priorities for victims’ services, witness support, and community-based violence reduction.